Thursday Izzo updates

MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo sits on the empty MSU bench and watches the Northern Iowa team warm up before the March 26 Sweet 16 game at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The Spartans defeated the Panthers, 59-52, to advance to the Elite 8.

Update 11:30 p.m.: Plane lands at Capital City Airport. Izzo comes out and tells The Detroit News, “I did what I had to do.” Doesn’t say if he made a decision or if there is a timetable. When informed about the rally, Izzo said, “I appreciate the kids, I always have.”

Update 10:26 p.m.: Cavaliers beat writer for News-Herald (OH) tweets that Izzo spent 9 1/2 hours with the Cavs and is getting ready to fly home to Michigan

Update 9:30 p.m.: Sophomore center Derrick Nix appears at the rally, says he’s nervous and scared. Nix told the crowd he cares about them and the rally means a lot.

Update 8:50 p.m.: Izzo told radio show host and longtime friend Jack Ebling this afternoon that he has not made a decision.

Update 8:40 p.m.: About 50 people already at the rally. Follow @thesnews_sports on Twitter for live updates.

Update 2:20 p.m.: Spartan fans are planning a rally to show support for Izzo Thursday night at 9 p.m. outside Breslin Center

A thread was posted around 1 p.m. on the website spartantailgate.com recommending fans do something to support Izzo.

“I woke up and I was like, ‘This is kind of scary, this whole Izzo thing.’ I was like, ‘What can we do about it?’” said communications sophomore Adam McKay, who posted the original thread. “So I posted that thread on Spartan Tailgate and it kind of took off.”

McKay is in Jackson, Mich., but said he will be at the rally. Several Facebook groups have been created and are steadily gaining numbers.